Each year, the OSIP program returns tremendous value to the Ontario pork industry through improvement in reproductive efficiency (more pigs with improved survival), growth efficiency (fast-growing, more feed efficient pigs) and carcass merit (leaner carcass with higher cutability). Best of all, the effects of genetic improvement are cumulative. This means once gained, they are never lost - unlike the effect of other variables in pig production which can increase and decrease over time (such as nutrition and management).